Acadia National Park Elopement and Wedding Guide

In this guide, is the following sections to help you when planning your Acadia National Park Elopement or Wedding:

• PARK ENTRANCE PASSES
• WEDDING OR ELOPEMENT PERMITS & REQUIREMENTS
• WEDDING RESTRICTIONS AND RULES
• DOGS IN ACADIA
• PICKING THE BEST TIME OF YEAR
• HOW MANY GUESTS ARE ALLOWED 
• CEREMONY SITES
• RECEPTIONS IN THE PARK
• CAR RESERVATIONS
• LEAVE NO TRACE
• MUST SEE SPOTS IN ACADIA
• PLACES TO STAY
• THINGS TO DO
• PLACES TO EAT
• HIRING AN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK WEDDING OR ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

Park Entrance Pass

You’ll need a park pass, one for each vehicle, to enter the park. All visitors need an entrance pass year-round. This can be purchased online and printed, or, you can buy one at one of the official park entrances’ booths (There is one on Park Loop Rd. right before Sand Beach). They have some new, snazzy passes this year in 2022 that make it easy to display your pass from your rearview mirror. Make sure your pass is visible on your dash at all times to avoid getting tickets.

You have a couple of options when it comes to getting an entrance pass:

1. A Private vehicle pass that is valid for 7 days ($30). This is great if you only plan to visit the park during the week of your wedding.
2. An Acadia Annual Pass that is valid for a whole year ($55). This Pass is perfect if you plan to return to the park more than once within 12 months of purchasing– it pays for itself after two visits!
3. An American the Beautiful Pass ($80) Your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day-use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted for free. This is a great option if you plan to visit multiple National Parks in one year across the country!

More information can be found HERE for Acadia-specific passes and HERE  for America the Beautiful Passes.

Do I need a permit for my Acadia National Park wedding or elopement?

Permits are required for weddings, elopements, and commitment ceremonies in the park, with the exception of simple ceremonies of up to 10 people that meet certain restrictions. The permit application fee is $75 and is nonrefundable. The National Park Service maintains strict conditions for private events (like weddings and elopements), so please read the regulations and conditions on their site to make sure your day is in alignment with their rules.

Weddings, elopements, and commitment ceremonies may be scheduled any time within the same calendar year and no less than 10 work days before your ceremony.

I recommend all couples get a permit for their ceremony even if they only intend to invite a handful of guests- 10 people can add up quickly, especially since your photographer and officiant are considered a part of your guest count! Make sure to keep several copies of your permit with you just in case you need it the day of.

You can find more information on their website about the rules & regulations, permits, and more HERE .

Wedding and elopement restrictions and rules

Acadia National Park has strict regulations and rules in place when it comes to hosting weddings or elopements in the park. These rules are in place to protect the park and to ensure that it can be loved for generations to come. By following and respecting these rules, you help make an effort to keep the park beautiful, open, and accessible for you to visit in 10, 20, 50 years. Imagine visiting the spot where you got married so many years ago on your anniversary- feels all warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it?

These rules and regulations may feel a bit daunting and restrictive, however, I assure you that Acadia National Park Weddings can be absolutely stunning while still abiding by the rules.

Please check out the link HERE  to review all of the park’s regulations and rules.

A quick look at some of the restrictions:

• The use of special equipment, such as canopies, arches, chairs, or other decorations requires park administrative review and is generally not allowed.
• Amplified music and speaker systems are prohibited.
• Excavating, digging, or disturbing soils, plants, and trees is prohibited (no carving initials into trees & no tree planting ceremonies).
• The releasing of balloons, doves, or butterflies and the throwing of rice, birdseed, flower petals, or other natural or artificial material is not allowed.
• Pets must be leashed at all times in all locations.

 

Dogs in Acadia!

Dogs can attend your elopemen in the park! They just need to be leashed at all times in all places of the park. Be sure to pick up after your dog and don’t allow them to be destructive to the landscape. Do not let them dig holes, cross restoration barriers, or breaking branches off trees for sticks.

 

Picking the best time of year for your Acadia national park wedding or elopement:

Every season has its Pros and Cons when it comes to selecting what time of year to get married in Acadia. I’ve been to the park during every season so, here are my insights as a true Mainer on each season in the park in relation to your Acadia National Park wedding or elopement:

SPRING

MARCH – MAY

There won’t be many visitors during this time of year so expect smaller crowds and having certain spots in the park all to yourself (yay for privacy during your heartfelt vows)! Temperatures will range from the 20’s to the 50’s depending on the month and the weather. Definitely expect foggy mornings (or even days), mud, and melting snow.

Pro Tips for this time of year:

• Depending on the month, be sure to bring waterproof shoes, a change of socks, traction/Yaktrax, and warm layers.
• Most restaurants in Bar Harbor are seasonal and don’t open for the year until Memorial day. Expect limited places to dine and shop. Leary’s Landing is one restaurant in Bar Harbor that is open year round.
• A lot of roads in the Park will be closed for the season. Use the Sand Beach park entrance to enter the park and ask for Directions from a park ranger to see if it’s possible to get to where you want to go!

SUMMER

JUNE – AUGUST

One of the most popular times to be in the park! All of the roads are open and the “don’t miss” spots are easily accessible. Temperatures will usually range from the 50’s- to low 80’s depending on the month and is a great time of year to visit. With the nicer weather and school being out, there are a lot more tourists in the park- keep this in mind when planning out your Acadia National Park wedding or elopement.

Pro Tips for this time of year:

• If you want to avoid lots of crowds and have more privacy during this time of year, plan your ceremony around sunrise or sunset (this will also give you the best light of the day!)
• Another tip to dodge crowds- avoid getting married on a weekend and opt for a weekday (it will be the best Wednesday EVER)!
• Wanting to visit Cadillac Mountain? Parking is limited and the summit’s parking lot can get packed very easily. Nowadays, Cadillac requires reservations to get to the top so, plan in advance and snag a reservation to make sure you are able to head to the top during your stay! (More on this later!)

FALL

SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER

Crowds start to thin as tourists head back home and kids go back to school. One of my personal favorite times to visit the park is between right after Labor Day and the first week of October. This is because folks go home after the Labor Day weekend and the “leaf peepers” aren’t in the park yet (prime Fall colors for the “leaf peeping” is usually around the second week of October– avoid this time of year if you want minimal crowds in the Fall.) The weather will start to become cool & crisp- so bring a light layer to warm up with in the mornings and evenings.

Pro Tips for this time of year:

• If you’re hoping to get some Fall foliage, try to plan your wedding or elopement on a weekday to avoid crowds. Or, plan for sunrise or sunset!
• Be sure to get your reservation to the top of Cadillac to look at the changing leaves from a fantastic point of view!
• Pack a couple of warm blankets & hot chocolate for a cozy picnic to enjoy with the views after hiking one of the many amazing mountain trails!

WINTER

NOVEMBER – FEBRUARY

Expect it to be cold & snowy! The park, and Bar Harbor, start to close down for the season in November as they prepare to hunker down for winter. Large portions of the park’s roads will be closed for winter so, be sure to ask a ranger what’s open and the best way to get there! Give yourself plenty of time to get from spot to spot- it can be icy on the roads and many of the roads are one-way only so, it can take longer than you think! There are a few restaurants and hotels that are open year round- make sure to grab a hotel reservation as soon as you can because space is limited!

Pro Tips for this time of year:

• Be sure to bring waterproof shoes, a change of socks, traction, and lots of warm layers.
• Expect limited places to dine and shop. Leary’s Landing is one restaurant in Bar Harbor that is open year round. The Acadia Hotel is a very cute Inn that is also open year round (and is walking distance to Leary’s Landing!)
• A lot of roads in the Park will be closed for the season. Use the Sand Beach park entrance to enter the park and ask for Directions from a Park Ranger to see if it’s possible to get to where you want to go!
• Do NOT rely on Google Maps to get you to destinations in the park during the winter. Google Maps (Apple Maps, too) do not reflect seasonal road closures and also try to take you & your car down Carriage roads (a big no no)!
• Expect lots of fog on days where it is slightly above freezing (it can make for an awesome “moody” vibe)!

How many guests are allowed for an Acadia National Park wedding or elopement?